Reflections from a New Freshman Parent

<p>Just thought I'd post for anyone wondering if Tulane would be a good fit for their son/daughter. Picked my freshman son up Wednesday for fall break, slightly unsure of what he was going to have to say about the son. Last spring he had narrowed his choices down to SMU and Tulane. After days of going back and forth, he posted his choices on Facebook, and solicited feedback from friends and family. (Note; I do not recommend the Facebook strategy for choosing a school, this was solely his idea). </p>

<p>SMU was a school very much like the one he had attended from K-12th, filled with mostly the same type of students he had been around for 13 years, less than 2 hours from home, he was familiar with the Dallas area etc..</p>

<p>Tulane, almost polar opposite. He couldn't decide whether he wanted a change or not. </p>

<p>The overwhelming response (including that from adults he really admired and respected) was Tulane, so that was the choice he made. Spent all summer looking forward to it and then, night before we left, started expressing doubts and worries. When I left him on move-in weekend, I could tell he was very much wondering if he had made the right choice. Course as a guy, phone conversations were very short, but were filled with doubt and worry (both voiced and between the lines) about the school, the classes etc.. so I was somewhat worried. I encouraged him to attend the activities, found things on the calender I thought he would like and expressed my belief that this was just a settling in period. He did Outreach Tulane, the riverboat cruise, the Target trip, some TAD (tulane after dark), stuff. </p>

<p>However I am pleased to report, he spend nearly the entire 6 hour drive home gushing over the school, how glad he was to have chosen the school. How friendly the majority of the students were. How much he was broadening and expanding his horizons and opinions. I was running late, but several of his friends were still around, all came out to see him off, say hi to me etc.. So;</p>

<p>Food generally good, desserts are his downfall, he says they have fruit pies, Pizza, not so good unless they order off campus, but the budget doesn't spring for that often. So he had pizza last night.</p>

<p>Classes are more work for him than in high school, but he feels a feeling of accomplishment when he works the hard stuff and gets it right. He's taking Consolidated Calculus (cal 1&2 in one semester, I would have rather seen him do cal 1 fall and cal 2 spring, but his choice) physics for engineering majors w/lab, chemistry w/lab (I would have though all chem classes were lab, but he has a friend at a TX school, whose chemistry not for chem majors class has no lab) and Tides class and a History class, so a solid schedule, but not overwhelming. </p>

<p>He did finally check out the library (I had been urging him to) he needed a place to study with no distractions, and was impressed. </p>

<p>He's in Patterson, the so called wellness dorm, (but don't let the name fool you, unwell things go on there too) but he's loving it. Has a great RA, many kids hang out in the common room, they leave their room doors open at lot, so friends can just drop by. The community bathroom thing hasn't been an issue at all. The laundry room threw him for a loop, we don't have front loading washers and dryers around here that don't have clear doors so it was hard for him to figure out how much laundry could fit, how much soap to use etc.. but he managed. He grumbled that they took out soda machine but I noticed there were soda cans in his room, so he's not lacking for soda. He hasn't done the yoga, zumba etc classes, but has done the hall events. </p>

<p>People are great, full of interesting viewpoints, most friendly (now I'll have to be truthful, son is easygoing, very accepting of different POVs, laid back, one of those kids that gets along with lots of people), he's being exposed to different things (nothing I'm concerned about, I'm blessed, he is level-headed and pretty much has no problem sticking to his belief on the partying/drug/sex etc.. issues, while letting others do as they choose too).</p>

<p>Professor's are approachable, continually coming up with reminders about what all is available, bringing in speakers, companies, telling the kids to just hang out and experiment with all the different resources that are available. </p>

<p>Hasn't ventured off campus too much, just a couple trips, ridden the street car, hit Bourbon street (on a Sunday of all days), been to a concert etc.. Joined a couple of groups, he has a diverse group of interests, so there is only overlap in a few people among two of the groups. The groups have all been welcoming. </p>

<p>He's feeling much more confident about his grades (he was a little worried), he's working hard but still finding time to have fun and is not sitting in his dorm room. Matter of fact, he's not even hooked up his television, uses his little free, alone time to play computer games. </p>

<p>So to sum up, great school, the few incidents that have been publicized not withstanding, the campus has been safe for him. He's pleased with his choice and that's the most important thing. The few times I've contacted administration, they've been helpful and polite. I've headed down for parent/family weekend next weekend (wish fall break and parent weekend were further apart but that's just a minor thought) and looking forward to letting him show me all around. </p>

<p>So if your student is applying/accepted to Tulane, it's an excellent choice.</p>

<p>Thanks Scribbulus! Always wonderful to hear that a student has embraced the university and what it offers so well. It sounds so balanced, too. That stood out for me.</p>

<p>As a Tulane alum & a two year Patterson resident (back in my day it was just a regular dorm) I loved reading your post! Glad to hear that your son is adjusting well to college life and that he is happy he is at Tulane!
My son just submitted his Tulane application. Fingers & toes are crossed that he is accepted!
Best wishes to your son for a happy four year experience. Tulane is an awesome school and New Orleans is a fantastic place to be while in college.
Roll Wave!</p>

<p>Great post Scribbulus! My son is also a very happy freshman. He was a little overwhelmed at first trying to balance everything, but he is doing a little better now that he has “found” the library. The dorm was just too loud and filled with too many distractions to get any work done there. From what I can tell, his grades seem to be good and he is having a lot of fun at the same time. I get the sense from him that the students are extremely accepting of each other - no matter what their differences. He is enjoying the exposure to students from all over the country. I would say that the food has been his biggest complaint, but he has always been a very picky eater, so I take that with a grain of salt. He prefers the food at the LBC to Bruff. He is certainly not starving - we saw him a few weeks ago when we went down for a Saints game. All in all, I would say that he is very happy he chose Tulane.</p>

<p>I fully agree! My son is a freshman at Tulane and we picked him up at the airport Wednesday evening. He said the best thing a parent could hear…“Tulane was the right choice for me.” In just 6 weeks, I have seen both personal and academic growth. He was always a good student (as anyone accepted to Tulane is), but while he worked relatively hard in high school, he never needed to make the academic sacrifices. I am so proud to see that he is paying first and playing later. He said there is certainly time for both. He even said that he spent the past Friday and Saturday night studying for a midterm. My only concern are the two recent posts on the Crime Alert of students being mugged at gunpoint. I recognize this can happen in any city, but I believe the NOPD needs to be more active in the surrounding areas. Post Katrina, Tulane students have embraced New Orleans. I believe New Orleans now needs to ensure the students attending school in NOLA are properly protected, as some areas are outside of the jurisdiction of the Tulane PD.</p>

<p>I applied at Tulane and I’m so happy to have read your post. I’m from the Dallas area too and I’ve been a little nervous about applying at a school so far away from the people that I’ve grown up with. But your post has given me more confidence. :)</p>